Ministry of Environment - Water Stewardship Division - Fluvial / Alluvial Fans and Floodplain Development Regulations: Annotated Bibliography

Fluvial / Alluvial Fans and Floodplain Development Regulations: Annotated Bibliography

Introduction

This bibliography was prepared as part of a study of fluvial /alluvial fans as a hazard relating to the regulation of land use in coastal British Columbia.

Note: The Symbols FL, RB, MELP, are for internal use.

Annotated Bibliography

Arizona Floodplain Management Association, Proceedings of the Conference on Arid West Floodplain Management Issues, Las Vegas, Nevada, 1988, published by the Association of Floodplain Managers Inc., Madison, Wis. USA 311 pp. (FL).

Papers on Mapping and management of hazard areas.

Association of State Floodplain Managers Inc. Improving the effectiveness of floodplain management in Western State High-Risk Areas workshop. February, 1984. Special Publication No. 9. Association of State Floodplain Managers Inc. (MELP Library, BPWC).

Nineteen short papers on hazards relating to Alluvial Fans, Mudflows and Mud floods, concerning the effectiveness of floodplain management in high-risk areas.

Bishop, D. M. and M. E. Stevens, Landslides on Logged Areas in Southeast Alaska, U. S. Forest Service Research Paper N0R-1, 1964.

The influence of logging on landslides.

Boyer, Dwain, Alluvial Fan Hazard Assessment Procedures, Presentation to the Section Heads of WMD, MELP, 1989

Classification, Hazard Assessment, Recommendations.

Terms of Reference for Alluvial and/or Debris Torrent Fan Studies - MELP document, January 1991.

Definitions, selection of consultants, study content, maintenance requirements, costs.

British Columbia, Province of, Floodplain Management in British Columbia, A Provincial Overview Your Community and the Environment, a Shared Responsibility 3rd. Annual Conf. on Local Govt. and Environmental Issues, pp. 75-86, 1995.

Describes the present structure and responsibilities, background, issues and challenges; mainly for Lower Mainland

Cave, P. W., Regional District of Fraser Cheam, Hazard Land Management Study. Report to Ministry of Municipal Affairs, January, 1992.

Very complete report on regulation in this District; hazard identification, engineers report, approval, inspection.

Legal Instruments and Techniques for implementing Hazard Land Planning Policies in B. C. , January 1992, Report to Ministry of Municipal Affairs, 20 pp. (FL).

Included in Regional District Fraser Cheam report, cited above

Cave, P. W, Hazard Acceptability Thresholds for Development Approvals by Local Government, in B. C. Geologic Hazards Workshop, Victoria, February, 1991, 2 p. abstract (FL).

How Fraser-Cheam Reg. Dist. meets legal requirements for identifying and regulating hazardous lands.

Natural Hazards, Risk Assessment and Land Use Planning in British Columbia, in Geohazards Conference 1992, Vancouver, B. C., 11 pp., (FL).

A review of practice in regulating land use in hazardous areas in the Fraser-Cheam Regional District. Hazard identification and regulatory enforcement are described.

and et al., Recommendations of the Geologic Hazards Workshop - by the Steering Committee on Geologic Hazards, in Proc. Geologic Hazards, 1991 Workshop Victoria, B. C. - B. C. Geological Survey Branch, April 1992 (FL).

The needs are for education, a geologic hazards data base, research into earthquake, landslide, flood, marine and shoreline hazards and volcanic hazards.

Church, M. and M. J. Miles, Meteorological antecedents to debris flow in Southwestern British Columbia; some case studies in Geological Society of America, Reviews in Engineering Geology, Volume VII, 1987,16 pp. (RB).

Attempts to correlate rainfall/snow events with debris slides.

Dawdy, David R., Flood Frequency Estimates on Alluvial Fans, Journal of the Hydraulics Division, ASCE Nov. 1979 (HY11) Proc. Amer. Soc. of Civil Eng.

The U. S. FEMA Insurance requires that a 100-year flood water level be determined. Riverine flood methods are not suitable for fans. This short paper proposes a different method for determining flood frequencies. Has general applicability, but roads and houses would make it difficult to apply. See comments by R. R. Nyhof.

Derby, Stephen L. and Ralph L. Keeney, Risk Analysis: Understanding "How Safe is Safe Enough?" in Risk Analysis Vol. 1, No. 3, 1981. (Society for Risk Analysis) (FL)

Risk analysis is fundamental to hazard area management; describes general and theoretical approaches.

Doyle, P. F. and Associates, Performance of Alternative methods of Bank Protection. Can. Jour. of Civil Engineering, Vol 19, pp. 1049-1061, 1992. Illustrated paper describing and evaluating different methods.

Edwards K. and J. Thielmann, Alluvial Fans: Novel Challenge, Civil Engineering ASCE, November, 1984, pp. 66-68 (RB).

Managing development in a fan that is already subdivided. Uses modified Dawdy method.

Eisbacher G. H., Slope Stability and Land Use in Mountain Valleys. GeoScience Canada, March 1982, Vol. 9, No. 1, (13 pp. )

Historical experience in the European Alps can be transposed to B. C. to suggest adaptations to geotechnical hazards in mountain valleys. Management and risk are discussed.

E. L. U. C. (MELP)., Terrain Classification System, 1988 (2nd Edition) (MELP).

Use in conjunction with British Columbia Soil Survey - (Reports and Maps of soil resources). Booklet describes the geomorphic terms and symbols used on soil maps; good introduction.

Eyles N. and S. Kocsis, Sedimentology and clast fabric of subaerial debris flow facies in a glacially influenced alluvial fan, 1988, in Sedimentary Geology, pub. Elsevier Science Publishers.

An investigation of Cinquefoil Creek fan, B. C. Noted that this 12,000 year old fan is still active due to the recent glacial retreat.

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), Alluvial Fans: Hazards and Management FEMA, Federal Insurance Agency, Office of Loss Reduction, February 1989 (LL).

I. L. L. from University of Colorado. Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center. 14 pp. Booklet describes appeal of fans for building sites in American West; nature and identification of fans; types of flood and debris damage; managing development, management tools.

Coastal Construction Manual FEMA - 55, February 1986 (FL).

A manual for coastal use; good information on foundation design where high velocity expected.

Economic Feasibility of Floodproofing - Analysis of a small Commercial Building, June 1979.

In this example, elevating on fill was more economical than pillars or watertight closures.

Floodplain Regulations, Local Assistance Series 2C, publication by FEMA, Region Five, Chicago, Ill., June 1985.

Model Bylaw with commentary: considerable practical detail on enforcement, variance etc.

FEMA, Perspectives in Floodplain Management in the Pacific Northwest, FEMA, Reg. X, 1990 meeting report (FL).

Status of FEMA, issues, reports, acquisition program. Coast flood hazard study methods, WHAFIS, run-up, V zones, regs. for evaluating coastal structures, types of floodway, flow concepts, erosion and fans.

Reducing Losses in High Risk Flood Hazard Areas. A Guidebook for Local Officials, publication by Association of State Floodplain Managers, 1985.

How to identify high risk areas, regulate construction, community programs and approaches. Guidelines for alluvial fan studies leading to a map showing depth and velocity of water. Flash flood and mud flow hazards; construction on slopes.

French, R. H., Hydraulic Processes on Alluvial Fans publishers Elsevier, 1987 (ML).

A 244 p. book covering qualitative and quantitative processes in the development of fans. The hydrologic, geologic and hydraulic conditions that exist on alluvial fans are unlike riverine flood conditions. Mainly refers to the arid and semi-arid conditions of S. W. USA.

Geis, D. and B. Steves, Designing against flood damage American Institute of Architects, Journal November 1980 (FL).

A 7 p. summary of guidelines for architects; riverine floods.

Hay, Duncan, The Flood Hazard, abstract in Proc. Geologic Hazards in B. C., University of Victoria, February, 1991 (FL).

Coastal, river and local flooding are described.

Hay and Company, Report on Chilliwack River

Discusses the options for regulating land adjacent to larger meandering rivers; erosion hazards,; predicting erosion rates as a basis for regulation.

Hey, R. D. et al., Gravel Bed Rivers, (fluvial processes engineering and management, Wiley, 1982 (MELP - ANYV).

Brings together in 875 pp. contributions by 45 authors to help understanding of river channel processes in rivers with gravel beds (rather than fine alluvial beds). The book comes out of an international workshop (1980) on Engineering problems in the Management of Gravel-bed Rivers, to understand physical processes, modeling and river management guidelines (part RB).

Hill, J. C. and William F. Spalding, Single-Channel Alluvial Fan Hydraulics with application to design of medium density projects. Proc. 1989, Nat. Conf. on Hyd. Eng. New Orleans.

How the County of San Diego has used the FEMA methods to develop an alluvial fan study and map. Flow on fans between buildings.

Holden, B., Coastal Environment and Coastal Construction, A Discussion Paper, Ministry of Environment and Parks, Province of B. C. ,60 pp. ,1987 (FL).

Compares different ways of estimating and defining construction levels and set backs in coastal regions. Good background.

Hubert, John F. and Alan J. Filipor, Debris-Flow Deposits in Alluvial Fans on the West Flank of the White Mountains, Owens Valley, California, USA, Sedimentary Geology 61 (1989), 177-205, Elsevier Science Publishers.

Investigation into composition and dating of fan materials.

Hungr, O., G. D. Morgan, D. F. VanDine and D. R. Lister, Debris Flow Defenses in British Columbia, Geological Society of America, Reviews in Engineering Geology, Vol. VII, 22 pp., 1987.

Describes all the available defensive measures e.g. controlling timber harvesting, check dams and channel linings, dykes, diversions, bridge clearances, basins, debris control structures. Hazard Zones and Hazard Mapping introduce the discussion of defenses; development restrictions are also described.

Ingles, O. G., Statistics and Probability: The Engineer Client Interaction Problem, in Proc. ICASP5 - 5th Int. Conf. on Stats. and Probl, in Soil and Struct. Eng., UBC, Vancouver, B. C., Can. 1987, p. 12-23 (FL)

Research and professional dissemination of the risk inherent in engineering work is well advanced, but the public and client-related aspect is not. Problems of definitions, the value of life, insufficient data inference, supervision; some possible solutions are suggested.

Jackson Jr., L. E., Debris flow Hazard in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, 1987. Pub. Geologic Survey of Canada Paper 86-11 (FL) (ILL).

Text, pictures and maps; study of 103 fans and their basins in three areas; hazard evaluation methods.

Keeney, Ralph L. et al, Risk Management and Risk Analysis (Seminar arranged by B. C. Hydro, 1987?)

A series of papers on risk, decision analysis, problems of public interest, value modeling, risk analysis, technological and social and alternatives, risk communication etc.

and D. von Winterfeldt, "Use of Expert Judgment on Complex Technical Problems. "System Science Department, University of Southern California, L. A. (FL).

Expert judgment is fundamental to an alluvial fan investigation

Kellerhals, R. and M. Church, Hazard Management on Fans with examples from British Columbia. 1990, (20 pp.). in Alluvial Fans; A Field Approach, Wiley and Sons (RB).

Identification of avulsion and debris flow potential is the key element for assessment of fan hazard (Good overall reference source).

Krone, R. B. and J. B. Bradley, Hyperconcentrations, Mud and Debris Flows, A Summary. Proc. Int. Symp. on sediment transport modeling, New Orleans, LA., USA.

Characteristics of mud and debris flows, mechanical properties, transportation capacities.

Leopold, Luna B. ,AView of the RiverHavard University Press 1994, 213 pp.

Book, describing the morphological processes in streams and rivers, based on the authors extensive experience. *

Li R-M and D. B Simons, Geomorphological and Hydraulic Analysis of Mountain Streams, in Gravel Bed Rivers, op cit above.

Special requirements for mountain stream analysis.

Magura, L. M. and D. E. Wood, Flood Hazard Identification and Floodplain Management on Alluvial Fans, AWRA - Water Resources Bulletin, February, 1980, 6 pp.

Describes methodology used by F. I. A. for flood hazards.

Martin, D. C. et al., Remedial Measures for Debris Flows at the Agassiz Mountain Institute, British Columbia. in Can. Geotech. J. 21, 505-517, 1984 (FL).

Following a major debris flow in 1982 and full investigation, two large rockfall blocks were anchored with dowels, berms and basin constructed.

McCuen, R. H. et al., Risk of Debris Basin Failure 1990 - Journal Water Resources Planning and Management, Vol. 116, No. 4, July/ August, ASCE, (RB).

As well as rainfall frequency (esp. 72 hour), the interval between significant watershed burns can be a factor affecting debris flow events. A proper maintenance program is needed for a debris basin proposal.

Miles, M. J. and R. Kellerhals, Some Engineering Aspects of Debris Torrents in Proc. 5th Canadian Hydrotechnical Conference. Canadian Soc. for Civil Engineering, New Brunswick, 1981, 25 pp. (FL).

Debris torrents on coastal B. C. mountains; basin, frequency, land use, Flood Plain zoning, Land Management, Bridge and culvert Design.

Miles, M. and Associates, Deadman River Channel Stability Analysis for the Fraser River Action Plan. March 1995, 36 pp.

Identifies channel stability, reasons for changes, since 1948 recommendations for management and mitigation; importance of riparian vegetation

Morgan, G. C., Quantification of Risks from Slope Hazards in Proc. Geologic Hazards '91 Workshop, Victoria, B. C., B. C. Geological Survey Branch, April 1992 (FL).

Derivation of subjectively selected probabilities of occurrence risk and public perception.

Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Ltd., Alluvial Fan Hazard Assessment, Reg. Dist. of Central Kootenay, Electoral Areas E and F, report prepared 1990 for the Reg. Dist. of Central Kootenay (F. L. ).

Several fans are described and classified, shown on maps, hazards described, risk analyzed, mitigation proposed. Major B. C. study

Pack, R. T., G. C. Morgan and L. R. Anderson, Philosophy of Landslide Risk Evaluation and Acceptance, in Proc. ICASP5 - 5th Int. Conf. on Stats. and Prob. in Soil and Struct. Eng., UBC Vancouver, B. C., Can 1987, p. 947-952.

The analysis of landslide risk should involve risk identification, evaluation, acceptance and mitigation. The evaluation should over trigger, failure, exposure and consequences. Judgment can and should be supported by such an analysis. Voluntary and involuntary risk levels are compared.

Rachocki, Andrzej, Alluvial Fans, Wiley, 1991.

A monograph (160 pp.) on the processes by which fans are formed, in part based on observations by the author of small man-made and experimental fans. Written against a background of extensive current and historical research

Reg. Dist. Fraser-Cheam, Hazard Land Management Study and ImpleIImplementation Report January, 1992 (specific to British Columbia).

This report includes three papers relating to the implementation and methodology of hazard land policy measures. Also, three geotechnical reports, extracts from OCP and zoning by-laws, information brochures, etc. Very thorough description of process and legislation re development in hazard lands

Rosenberg, Cecelia, Floodplain Management for Alluvial Fan Areas, 1990

Proc. Int. Symp. on Hydraulics and Hydrology of Arid Lands and 1990 National Conf. on Hyd. Eng. ,5 pp.

Due to the varied hazards on fans, jurisdictions need technical guidance for regulating development

Ryder, June M., Alluvial Fans of Post-Glacial Environments within British Columbia, December, 1969. Ph. D. Thesis, Dept. of Geog. UBC Vancouver, 430 pp. (ILL).

Major study of five fan areas in B. C. Excellent photographs and sketches. Describes glaciation and erosion, age of fans.

The Stratigraphy and Morphology of Para-glacial Alluvial Fans in South-Central British Columbia, Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 8, 279, 1971, 19 pp. (FL).

Investigation of five B. C. fan areas, fan construction, basin changes. The reduction in glacial ice-fed flows and vegetation cover has further reduced the supply of material for fan build-up.

Ryder, June M., Some Aspects of the Morphometry of Para-glacial Alluvial Fans in South Central B. C. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 8, 1252, 11 pp., 1971 (FL).

A comparison between post-glacial fans (e.g. in B. C. ) and arid fans (e.g. S. W. USA). Fan size vs. gradient.

San Diego, County of, Flood Control on Alluvial Fans, April 1987.

How federal (US) regulations are applied to the Borrego Springs Valley; mapping study described, structural design methods, illustrations.

Slaymaker, O., Implications of the Processes of Erosion and sedimentation for Sustainable Development in the Fraser River System in Perspectives on Sustainable Development in Water Management, Vol. 1, U. B. C., 1991 (FL).

Understanding basin-wide and long-term storage and erosion processes and the consequences of human intervention.

Sloan, Hugh., Role of Local Government in Flood Hazard Management, in Your Community and the Environment-A Shared Responsibility 3rd. Annual Conf. on Local Government and the Environment April 6-7 1995, pp. 87-100 Vancouver B. C.

History of Floodproofing in the Fraser-Cheam Regional District and some of the legal and practical problems with current regulation of development in floodplain areas. *

Slosson J. E. et al, Responsibility/Liability related to Mudflow/Debris Flows, Water Forum '86, Long Beach Calif. 1986, Proc. of Conf. (RB)

Re:Cases filed against government and professionals for failure to do duty.

Swanston, D. N., The Forest Ecosystem of Southeast Alaska, USDA Forest Service, General Technical Report PNW-17 - 1974.

The influence of forests and logging on oversteepened slopes in Alaska and the frequency of slides.

Mechanics of Debris Avalanching in Shallow Till Soil of Southeast Alaska, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Juneau, Alaska, Research Paper PNW-103, 1970 (FL).

Debris flows and their relation to alluvial fans

Thurber Consultants Ltd., (H. W. Nasmith, P. Eng., Dr. R. Kellerhals, Dr. J. Ryder, Mr. W. W. K. Smyth) Floodplain Management on Alluvial Fans, report to the Ministry of Environment, Water Management Branch, August 1983 (FL).

Thurber Consultants Ltd., (O. Hungr, G. C. Morgan and R. Kellerhals), Quantitative Analysis of Debris Torrent Hazards for Design of Remedial Measures, undated.

Tippeff, E. M. and M. C. Roberts, Natural Hazards in Mountainous Environments: French and Austrian Approaches to Mitigative Planning and Zoning in Geohazards Conf. '92 - Vancouver, B. C. (FL).

A historical review of French and Austrian practice and a comparison with British Columbia.

U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Flood Proofing Regulations, 1980.

Special flood-proofing requirements and minimum standards of design and construction for buildings susceptible to flood damages. (Such material is not included in building codes). Coastal and mud slide problems are not covered. Recommended reading for building inspectors.

Flood Proofing Systems and Techniques. Flood Plain Management Services Program, Washington, D. C., December, 1984.

Illustrated 103 pp. booklet showing floodproofing of residential, office commercial and institutional buildings. Passive and active methods are described.

Vick, Steven G., Risk in Geotechnical Practice Geohazards Conference, Vancouver, 1992.

Use of imperfect knowledge must be guided by judgment and experience. Decision on appropriate factor of safety. Understanding failure mode; judgmental probability.

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updated: March 2006